Adam Goodes has won two Brownlows, three club champion awards and owns four All Australian jumpers – not bad for a player who is supposedly guilty of committing one of football's cardinal sins, says John Longmire.

The Sydney coach has hit back at allegations by former Hawthorn star Dermott Brereton that Goodes did not put his head over the ball in contests, saying the Swans champion's record for spoke for itself.

I had a brief chat with Adam, Adam really doesn't care what Dermott Brereton thinks and so he shouldn't - John Longmire

Brereton launched a scathing attack on Goodes on Monday night, describing the 33-year-old as a player who avoided body contact in 50-50 ground ball because he "chooses to go feet-first at other people's peril".

Goodes received a one-match ban last year for a rough conduct charge after he slid into Port Adelaide's Jacob Surjan in a contest but escaped sanction from the AFL match review panel for making contact with his foot to Hawthorn's Josh Gibson's legs on Saturday night. The panel ruled Goodes had been making a legitimate attempt at kicking the ball.

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Longmire rubbished Brereton's comments on SEN radio, describing them as "completely inappropriate and absolutely wrong". Goodes is believed to be unperturbed by Brereton's reaction.

"I had a brief chat with Adam, Adam really doesn't care what Dermott Brereton thinks and so he shouldn't," Longmire said.

"In the end Adam Goodes' football reputation and integrity stands alone. I just feel it's a bit of a pity I've got to stand here and talk about it to be honest.

"The point's got to be made, you don't do what Adam Goodes has done in AFL football and have that accusation levelled at him. You just have to stand by those facts.

"Why should we even discuss it? If you're not prepared to put your head over the ball you don't play 50 games let alone 350, two best and fairests and do what he's done – that's very difficult to do."

Longmire refuted Brereton's suggestions that Goodes was not a fair player or that he received an "enormous amount of leniency" from the MRP.

"The facts are he's been suspended when he's done the wrong thing and the fact the match review panel said he was attempting to kick the ball – they're the facts," Longmire said.

"To question the MRP as openly as what Dermott's done – that's really the issue. He's questioning the integrity of the MRP."

Brereton is a respected commentator and also a part-time assistant coach with Greater Western Sydney.

Goodes will reach another milestone this week when he lines up with Ryan O'Keefe and Jude Bolton for their 250th game together.

It is only the second time in the league's history three players have appeared together 250 times. Western Bulldogs stars Brad Johnson, Rohan Smith and Scott West played 253 games for the Western Bulldogs from 1994 to 2007.

Goodes, O'Keefe and Bolton are on track to equal their record of 253 games against Adelaide in round 11.

"They're all absolute professionals in the way they go about it, they're fierce competitors, they want to win and they've been fantastic drivers of what this footy club's about for a long time.

"It's no accident they've been able to play for so long."

Ruckman Shane Mumford remains in doubt to face Fremantle on Saturday. The big man, who was rated a 50-50 chance to play, was restricted to running laps on Tuesday and did not join the main group in training.

51 comments so far

Dermott should have a look at the footage of the brawl in the 1985 Grand Final when he ran 100 metres to launch himself knees first into an Essendon player's ribs!!

Commenter

Jim

Location

Werribee

Date and time

May 14, 2013, 6:35PM

Jim, so that justifies Goodes doing it?

Commenter

Stop changing the rules

Date and time

May 14, 2013, 8:00PM

Here, here, for Dermott to say what 50000 people saw on Saturday night live and commented on straight away. I know John Longmire has to stick up for his footballer in public but I hope John talks to him in private and says enough of this rubbish to him. Goodes was also lucky to get away with the the attempted charge on Sam Mitchell as well, Mitchell noticeably grabbed his shoulder straight afterwards while Goodes ran away with arms in the air to protest his innocence. ( no free kick for high contact)

Commenter

Tenpin

Date and time

May 14, 2013, 6:47PM

being a Hawks supporter I was a little surprised that Adam Goodes was cleared of this one.He went in for the ball feet first and kicked Josh Gibson in the shins.Maybe it looked uglier than it was but in soccer this type of tackle will bring a red card as it is considered dangerous.I would've thought at the very least this was reckless and deserved a week although the Swans seem to be one of the umpires favorites just look at the decision to penalize Shaun Burgoyne for running too far not to mention the farcical review of a goal that became a point.

Commenter

john of adelide

Location

adelaide

Date and time

May 14, 2013, 6:55PM

Sighhhh...another Hawk whiner....

Commenter

David the Cat

Date and time

May 14, 2013, 7:44PM

Sigh, another pathetic Geelong supporter.

Commenter

TED

Date and time

May 14, 2013, 8:18PM

Ah, no, John if you look at the slo-mo replay you'll see the contact was thigh on thigh, so no case to answer.

Shins didn't come into it.

Commenter

Rory

Date and time

May 15, 2013, 1:20AM

Is that why Gibson was holding his shin Rory? I'd say his initial reaction of holding the shin, and having it looked at by the doctor is enough for me to know 'cheap shot' Goodes kicked him in the shin....

Commenter

Will Turner

Date and time

May 15, 2013, 7:39PM

Brereton was a thug anyway. He should have stopped playing when Hawthorn sacked him instead of clogging up list positions at other clubs. Head stomping was a sad ending for him.